Soldiers killed, 2 missing in Anbar

3 U.S.

August 10, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Three American soldiers were killed Wednesday in the Sunni insurgent area west of Baghdad, and Iraqi officials said about 1,500 people died violently last month in the capital -- many shot execution-style by sectarian death squads. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, a U.S. statement said. The brigade operates around Ramadi, capital of Anbar province where support for the Sunni insurgency is strong. In addition, two Americans were missing Wednesday after a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down the day before in Anbar province. The helicopter crashed in an unspecified body of water and divers were searching for the missing troops, the military said. The crash was not due to hostile fire, the U.S. said. The deaths brought to at least 17 the number of American service members killed in Iraq this month. On Wednesday, deputy Health Minister Dr. Sabah al-Husseini said about 1,500 violent deaths were reported last month in the Baghdad area -- excluding members of the U.S.-led coalition. The assistant manager of the Baghdad morgue, Dr. Abdul Razzaq al-Obeidi, said 1,815 bodies were brought in last month, and about 85 percent had died violently.